Strictly Come Dancing: Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell win Glitterball Trophy in tear-jerking finale
Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews
Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter
Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter
Strictly Come Dancing 2024 has been won by Chris McCausland and his partner Dianne Buswell.
The pair were vying against Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola, Tasha Ghouri dancing with Aljaž Škorjanec and JB Gill and his pro partner Lauren Oakley in Saturday night’s tear-jerking grand final (14 December).
McCausland was a firm favourite to win, and is now the first blind contestant to become a Strictly champion.
The comedian’s first two dances of the night – a couple’s choice to “Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)” by John Lennon and a show dance to “You Get What You Give” by New Radicals – had an emotional impact, as judges Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas were left in tears.
And his third caused even more sobbing. McCausland and Buswell were both in tears at the end of their routine — a performance of their Waltz to “You Never Walk Alone” by Gerry and the Pacemakers. Buswell’s parents in the audience were also crying, along with the panel and seemingly everyone in the Clauditorium.
Prior to the live final, McCausland is reported to have faced a last-minute change of plan as his parents couldn’t travel to Hertfordshire to support him due to illness.
His mother Valerie had caught the flu, and was unable to travel from their home in Liverpool to the Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, where the live final took place. McCausland’s father, John, told The Daily Mail he would be remaining at home to look after her.
Reflecting on his win on Saturday night, McCausland admitted he had predicted he would have been the first person eliminated from the competition because he didn’t think he could dance.
“It shows that with opportunity, support and determination, that anything can happen,” he said.
The comedian then dedicated his victory to anybody who “got told or thought that they couldn’t do something”.
The full list of songs and dances for tonight’s final
Each couple will dance three times each in tonight’s live final, including one judge’s pick, one show dance and a couple’s favourite dance. Find out all of the songs and dance styles below.
JB Gill and Lauren Oakley
Judge’s Pick: Viennese Waltz to “Let’s Go Fly A Kite” from Mary Poppins
Show Dance: Motown Medley
Couple’s Favourite Dance: Samba to “Mas Que Nada” by Sergio Mendes
Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell
Judge’s Pick: Couple’s Choice to “Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)” by John Lennon
Show Dance: “You Get What You Give” by New Radicals
Couple’s Favourite Dance: Waltz to “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Gerry and the Pacemakers
Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola
Judge’s Pick: American Smooth to “Proud” by Heather Small
Show Dance: “Cabaret” by Metropole Orkest
Couple’s Favourite Dance: Cha Cha to “Like A Prayer” by Madonna
Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec
Judge’s Pick: Couple’s Choice to “What About Us” by P!nk
Show Dance: “Sing, Sing, Sing” by Benny Goodman
Couple’s Favourite Dance: American Smooth to “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi
Tasha Ghouri’s journey from being Love Island’s first ever deaf contestant to Strictly Come Dancing
Among this year’s finalists is 26-year-old Tasha Ghouri – a model, TV personality and charity ambassador.
Read more here:
JB Gill, the JLS star whose pro partner changed halfway through the series
JB Gill has made his way to the final – but it hasn’t been a steady journey. His previous partner, Amy Dowden, was forced to pull out of the competition after she sustained an injury. Still, though, the former JLS singer has powered through.
Read more below:
Everything you need to know about finalist Sarah Hadland’s ‘Strictly’ journey
She’s been told by judges that she’s got the “best legs” in the competition and routinely wowed fans with her impressive moves. But does Sarah Hadland have what it takes to take home the glitterball trophy? Take a look back at her Strictly journey, below.
Strictly’s grand final has begun
Here we go! In just under two and a half hours time, we’ll be watching one pair lift the Glitterball trophy. But who could it be? The competition genuinely seems pretty open this year — though Chris McCausland has emerged as the favourite in the run-up to tonight’s show.
Whether you’re tuning in at home or quietly checking your phone while out at a Christmas do, I’ll be here to guide you through an exciting night.
Strictly pros open the show
The professionals are showing us how it’s done — and Amy Dowden is among them! What a joy to see her back on the dancefloor again.
This year’s four finalists then joined their partners for a dance, and it unexpectedly felt quite emotional seeing them all there?! What a fabulous final four.
JB and Lauren to perform Mary Poppins routine
For their Judges’ Pick, JB and Lauren are performing their Viennese Waltz to “Let’s Go Fly A Kite” from Mary Poppins, which they closed the quarter-finals with just a few weeks ago.
In each pair’s first VT, we’ll see a judge going to tell them which routine they’ve picked and these two have received a visit from Anton, who has stuck around to help out with choreography.
JB opens the show
And what a way to do it. This routine was practically perfect the first time they performed it and that was great, if not better.
Last time around, they scored a 39 with (yes you guessed it) Craig being the only judge not to give them a 10. Will he be convinced to this time around? I hope so!
Judges heap praise on JB
“Happy? I’m delighted! It was amazing,” said Anton. “It was better than before. There was more sway, your headline improved. The pivots! I know you’ve got three dances tonight but I’d like to see that three times.”
Craig said: “I’m not happy… I couldn’t find anything wrong with it. Grace, elegant, quality.”
“You were light, you were flying,” said Motsi. “Then in your solo parts, you shined. That is how you start a Strictly final.”
Shirley was similarly positive, telling JB: “Well done, you.”
I think we’re heading for that 40!
